Jamaica: Roots Fruits and Resiliency

I have never traveled outside the country. Nor have I had a passport, much less an ID. But God made a way for me and thanks to the very generous OVP-DEMA funding I was able to go to Jamaica. I learned so much about myself there because for starters Jamaica is my heritage and where I have always wanted to go to. I had to study Women’s Entrepreneurship and learned the various aspects of what it means to be a woman in Jamaica and how that affects the interpersonal relationships between their community and their business.

The places I went where several. From the inner city of Kingston to the Places of Milk and Honey next to the Mountains, there was never a dull moment. I believe the complexity of Jamaica truly helped me understand life’s perplexities. The people where fierce and independent with shops in every location in their small communities. The intensity of Kingston and Port Antonio was one that made me see how polar opposite Jamaica was from Indiana. Despite many of the landscapes resembling the country side, there will be a vibe I will miss. From being able to pick mangoes, coconuts, and apples from the trees for free, to the water that was clean enough to drink from. I will always be so breath taken away by the lovely people and the amazing dedication I learned from everyone. I came back fit, healthy and glowing. If you’re into mile hikes up the mountains, then this will be the trip for you. Sadly, I did not do too well with the mile hikes each day! But I survived and learned that there is something truly rewarding going up the mountain and seeing the expanse of the sky while sipping natural blue mountain coffee. Forever grateful of the hospitality of the natives and the life advice that I should hope to remember.